Swimming-course



J. W. LIPPINCOTT. SWIMMING COURSE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.22, 1919.

"1,331,270. Patented P65111920.

V I larvae/0607*."

with the wall 1 or corner 3. The primary function of the walls 1 and 1 is of'course to retain the water in the swinnning course, but when the divergent wave lines make contact with them a considerable portion is caused to react (rebound) toward the middle of the swimming course and a crest will be formed where the two reacted waves meet. The crest thus formed will be the swiftest part of the stream and if the current producing means are suitably positioned and disposed the crest will be near the middle of the course, and will tend to keep the swimmers away from the walls just as floating objects tend to stay in midstream of natural water courses. A stream of water from either of these supply pipes would by itself produce and maintain an endless surface course in the direction indicated by the arrows, but the current would impinge at right angles on the wall 1 at the lower or driftward end of each of the four stretches and would, therefore, if strong enough cause swimmers to forcibly collide with the wall at the driftward end of each stretch which would be dangerous. In order to overcome this objection the supply pipe B is disposed so that a stream discharging therefrom will produce a straightaway current confined by the two walls 1 and 1', which if of a velocity of two or more miles per hour will enable people to swim or float with the expenditure of but little of their own energy from (L to 7), when they arrive at b they will collide with the wall if the current is strong enough (and no provision is made to stop them) but they will enter into and be influenced by a transverse stream or current discl'iarging (emanating) from the supply pipe B which .will turn them at right angles to the 0-4) line, and prevent accidental collision with the wall and carry them straightaway to c-where they will enter into and be influenced by a stream emanating from the supply pipe B and transverse to the b@ stretch, which will again turn them at right angles and carry them straightaway to (I where they will enter into and be influenced by a stream emanating from the supply pipe 13, transverse to the 0 (Z stretch, which will also turn them at right angles and carry them straightaway to s arting point 11, when they will'have rounded the course and are again in the (4-4) stretch and influenced by the stream from the supply pipe B. may round th ourse as many times as they .may desire without stopping.

cidentally therefore prevent accidental colcurrent throughout the swimming It is no doubt obvious that theylision withthe wall 1 at the drift/ward end much water as flows in after the swimming course is as full as desired. One of these outlets is preferably located at each outer corner 6. e. in the transverse wall. at the lower or driftward end of each stretch. These outlets may be merely depressions 0 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, l and 5 in the top of the wall through which the surplus water will flow, or valved outlet pipes 7' shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 may pass through the wall 1 near the bottom of the course through which the surplus water may pass. The object in locating the outlets as indicated is so that outgoing water will have no influence over either the straightaway or transverse current.

As moving water has its velocity slackened by friction, tendency to adhere to the walls and head resistance of the air and water it is obvious that if the stretches (distances between forces) were long enough the current would become too sluggish to aid swimmers as much as desired, hence, it may be desirable in order to maintain a more uniform velocity throughout the swimming course to provide other (auxiliary) water supply pipes and dispose one or more of them in midstream in each of the stretches, as for example, B and B shown in the a 71 stretch Fig. 2 or if desired or required they may be placed at or near either or both sides, as for example B and B shown in the 0 (Z stretch Fig. 2.

If no elevated supply of water (dam or impounded water) is available a well like structureC illustrated in detail'by side view Fig. 7 and top view Fig. 8, may be located near each of the positions previously indicated for the water supply pipes and a water wheel D mounted on each ,and suitably disposed so that when they are rotated thcywvill produce a satisfactory endless surface current in the swimming course. The front or inner wall of each of these wells is submerged (below the surface) so that when the water wheel is rotated'at the proper speed each paddle or blade thereof will put a wave of the desired volume and velocity into motion in the desired direction. An opening 5 is provided near the bottom in the front wall of each well so that as water is displaced at the top by the rotating water wheel other water will flow in through this opening 5 and not disturb the surface current. It is no doubt obvious that auxiliary wells and water wheels may be installed in mid-stream or-at one or both sides at frequent intervals in each stretch. of the swim- Pumps ll etc may be located just outside undergrounc pit 6 with water in in of fine outer wall'lVand connecier by an nuns" con so at ihe b inning of each F shown in where a p07 is r moved show this cenneceion' y actuated 5o produce 1 a rent in throughu course instead of eiiher of means nererofore described. pumps E", etc, similarly connecced (as is also shown in Fig. 5 where another portion the wall is removed) with the waber in swimming course and suitably disposed just outside the walls 1 and 1 may be subsbitured for the accelerating means here'iofore described or rhey mayv also be i stalled. in midst-ream. in the latter case, however,

no pit will be needed.

The swimming; course illusira bed by side View Fig; 6 is designed to be installed water that is .yadable, three to four leerv deep and of about constant depih. The walls 1' and 1 may be supported by posts or piles '4" and may extend from a few inches above the surface of the waser to the bottom or they may extend to only about eighteen inches below the surface. the walls in this modification is merely to confine and direct a mechanically produc endless surface current. The endless surface current for this modification may be pro-, duced by water discl'iare'ed from pipes as B, B, B and B and as many suitably disposed auxiliary supply needed as for instance l is illustrated in Fig. in or a nearly uniform velocii-y iillIOU swimming course, or wells C u water Wheels D or pumps may be substituted for she water supply pipes B, B, B and B to produce the desired surface current in this modification by positioning them and disposing them similarl to the water supply pipes. this K'IlOtllfiCnilGIl, however, if the Water wheels used they may be suitably mounted in open waiter outside the walls at the be Ili'zlllllfi oi each stretch. bur. in. order to prevent the objectionable introduction into the swimming course of inateer that may be on the surface of *she ouiside Water I prefer to utilize the wells over which to mount the water wheels and thereby cause the water that is forced into the swimming course by said Water wheels over the submerged all l to be replaced through the open botbomsof the wells andthis also an plies boany auxiliary water wh els shat may The function. of i 4 cepced and absorb-ed a 'sitioned near the outer rent on the surface, which stead of one at the beginn' be positioned aif the sid course, and utilized as ac lieu of che accelerating pi B but the walls in ei' exrend a foot or so belo in Fig. 6 where J the swimming wing means in 33*, 3", B, and case need only the surface as is ions of the wall snown 1 is removed.

The space designa probably be a consider inner walls 1 ma b G, which will area between the *aise-d platform walkway, dancany ther desirrhe swimmin which may be utilia. ing floor dressing; able purpose by course.

The simple-i design an endless downstream i; f cor s herein contemplated onsis'l' o in equal sides, and each. of "four stretches would urine lei and an equal amount rould pro uce a current of the same o in each. The course may bowe /er be circular any other form or design, but any form ner than a square would complicaie n' l and the positioning or means t) 1 reduce me current of the desired velocity and in w e "esired direction would have ca order "so g uniform suits e, g. "che su'in cular in shape, i and the circumference bhere might be any nu; 3 number would be modilie the width of the swim; by the angle at which i Various current producing means were i seed with respect to the circle and whetl ey'were all @0- sitioned inside of the outer wall 1 (as illustrated) or 1-2 some of them were positioned outside or" the inner wall 1. any case each straightaway current \v *e to be interat a point just before *ould normally impinge on the wall 1 as illustrated by the arrow 8 in Fig.1. 4; and the transverse current can only be .ip rojecled by means poll. Obviously I etc, ihe Water nnps E, etc, are us in this modiof the water supply pipes Wheels D, etc, or the p equally as well adapted to e ficalion as in either of the nor forms.

it is not contemplated "rein to move and keep moving the entire con ns of the swin1- ming course, but to inere produce a c'uris all that is required to be of material to a swimmer, and each of the'three means illustrated and described herein will produce the desired result in either form or swimming course herein illustrated and describes-cu It is obvious that two or more of either of the surface current producing means or any desired combination of the three may be used inoi; each stretch considered in beginhing of each stretch to produce a away current therein, the stretches constraightaway current therein, the stretches connected and disposed so that the straightaway current in each stretch will merge near the driftward end thereof and near the beginning of its succeeding stretch with the current of said succeeding stretch and thus form a resultant and, therefore, a continuous and endless current throughout the swimming course.

2. The combination in an endless swimming course comprising a multiplicity of stretches, of walls to confine a current to the swimming course, a means near the beginning of each stretch to produce a straightnected and disposed so that the straightaway current in each stretch will merge near the driftward end thereof and near the beginning of its succeeding stretch with the current of said succeeding stretch and thus form a resultant and, therefore, a continuous and endless current throughout the swimming course, and additional means suitably installed at suitable intervals in each of the stretches to accelerate the diminishing velocity of the current to tend to keep it at a nearly uniform velocity through out the swimming course.

3. The combination in an endless swimming course of walls to confine a current and means to produce a straightznvay current in each stretch of the course, means for producing each straightaway current disposed to produce a transverse current at a suitable angle to and absorb the current in the preceding stretch and suitable outlets at suitable places in the outer wall for the outlet of surplus water.

4. The combination in a swimming course and outlets atsuitable places in the outer 1 Wall for the outlet of surplus water.

5. The combination in an endless swimming course comprising a multiplicity of stretches, of walls to, confine a current to the swimming course, a water wheel suitably disposed and mounted over a well near the beginning of each stretch, the walls of the well adapted to permit an inflow at the bottom andan enforced outflow at the top when the water wheel is rotated. and auxiliary water wheels suitably disposed and mounted over other suitable wells at suit-' able places and intervals to accelerate the diminishing velocity of the current to tend to keep it at a nearly uniform velocity throughout the swimming course.

6. The combination in an endless swimming.

course comprising a multiplicity of stretches, of walls to confine a current to the swunmmg course, means nearrthe begmning of each stretch to produce a straightaway current therein, additional current producing and current accelerating means for drawing water from near the bottom of the swimming course, the stretches connected and disposed so that the straightaway current in each stretch will merge near the driftward end thereof and near the beginning of its succeeding stretch with the current of said succeeding stretch and thus form a resultant and therefore continuous and endless curren throughout the swimming course.

JOHN W. LIPPINCOTT. 

